Pilot for Japan airline ANA jailed 20 months for groping flight attendant

A pilot for Japan's major airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for abusing his authority to grope a female flight attendant. The Tokyo District Court delivered the verdict on July 14.

Ryota Mise, 44, was found to have acted in a "mean and persistent manner" toward the victim in October 2023. The court ruled that he took advantage of his position as a captain to touch her private parts in various locations in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, while she was unable to assert herself against a person of authority.

Mise had pleaded not guilty, with his defense claiming the woman sent an approving message after the incident. However, the court rejected this, stating the argument failed to acknowledge the psychology of sexual abuse victims. Judge Takao Okawa noted that Mise took no steps to mitigate his junior colleague's suffering during her prolonged leave, justifying the jail time.

ANA issued a statement after the ruling, affirming that "No acts of harassment are allowed. We will strive to make sure nothing of this nature happens again." The airline had removed Mise from all flight duties since the case surfaced in March.

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No acts of harassment are allowed. We will strive to make sure nothing of this nature happens again.